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Viewers take pot shots at cowboy Vine
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor2 May 2008
The BBC's election coverage came under fire today from viewers lamenting the passing of Peter Snow's "swingometer".
In a clear break with the past, Jeremy Vine appeared tieless and in jeans to present jazzy computerised graphics on the poll results.
Ken Livingstone was represented as a Dennis the Menace figure, Boris Johnson as Lord Snooty and Brian Paddick as a cartoon policeman.
The theme switched to the Wild West, as Mr Vine donned a cowboy hat and fired a gun at graphics of tin cans representing voter percentages. BBC message boards buzzed with complaints from viewers claiming MrVine had "made an ass of himself" and attacking "hi-tech claptrap".
One viewer wrote: "Does the BBC imagine the audience really wants to see Jeremy Vine dressed as a cowboy shooting tin cans into the air to the bemusement of politicians.
"Not only was it toe-curling, it wasn't even slick. The people at the BBC who seem to think this c**p is a good idea should try to grow up."
Reader views (18)
It was a pathetic attempt by Labour lovies and fellow travellers to draw attention away from what was happening. Just think how bad the results would have looked if they had been treated seriously.
- Morvan, Saulieu, France, 03/05/2008 13:05
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May I add my two pennies worth to the storm of criticism rightly directed at the Jeremy Vine ‘performance’ on election special. The toe curling antics were both pathetic and totally inept and confirmed our worst fears of BBC decision making. The person responsible for this idea should be immediately promoted to the executive floor of the BBC where he can join other great BBC decision makers now languishing there. Jeremy Vines inability to distinguish a good idea from a bad one leaves his credibility questionable. Once again the BBC proves the license fee is overvalued and squandered on trivialities such as this.
- Tom Allison, Fife. Scotland, 03/05/2008 11:34
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Well done, BBC. You surpassed ITV but did not quite reach Channel 5 standards. If you'd had Page 3 girls showing the results you might have achieved that.
- Stan, Derby, UK, 03/05/2008 01:02
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In your Election Special, Jeremy Vine's prancing about on a platform with pathetic props and cheap cartoons, like some drunken buffoon in a misguided theme pub was not what I would expect to see as part of an Election broadcast. Does the BBC think that UK politics are now nothing more than a joke? This was the most patronising, insulting and offensive rubbish I have ever seen on the BBC and demeaned all those experienced broadcasters associated with it. I cannot believe that any of them approved. I assume that a lunatic was responsible.
- Ron Ball, Crawley, West Sussex,, 02/05/2008 23:10
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It was pathetic. The BBC need to approach politics with maturity, not this junk.
- Simon Mctintock, London, UK, 02/05/2008 22:44
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I mourn the BBC...
- Pete, Derby, Derbyshire, 02/05/2008 22:32
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I cut the sound off. It was awful. What are they snorting at white city?
- Asdfman, London UK, 02/05/2008 20:19
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I'm actually surprised more blogs haven't covered how terrible this was.
- B, Ireland, 02/05/2008 19:22
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Nothing surprises me about the BBC any more. It needs a good clear out from top to bottom.
- Robert Prior, Lesbury, Alnwick, Northumberland, 02/05/2008 18:05
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Nothing surprises me about the BBC any more. It needs a good clear out from top to bottom.
- Robert Prior, Lesbury, Alnwick, Northumberland, 02/05/2008 18:04
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Jeremy Vine was so toe-curlingly embarrassing that I had to turn off the sound - and I was watching it alone. Dumbing down has reached its nadir, surely? But each time I think that, the BBC proves me wrong.
- A, Colchester, Essex, 02/05/2008 17:47
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I watched this farce with increasing incredulity. The BBC is supposed to represent the cream of British broadcasting. Last night they failed dismally. Toe-curlingly embarrassing.
- Craig, Pinner, Middlesex, 02/05/2008 17:36
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Having just come back from the USA and seen how professional the coverage of the democratic presidential race is reported, it was a shocking disgrace to watch this.
I am embarrassed to be British.
- Finbar Taggit, London, 02/05/2008 17:10
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I watched the BBC coverage til 1.30. I thought it was appalling. Jeremy Vine was atrocious.
- Diana, Chessington Surrey, 02/05/2008 17:06
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Well, it took a bit of getting used to! I knew TV Centre's graphics department would give it their utmost in an attempt to lure and retain the sort of viewers who don't normally bother with late-night election analysis programmes (and only the dedicated do) but this seemed a bit too simplistic.
I didn't really expect Snowy but then I never expected Viney ...or the Spanish Inquisition come to that!
- The Watcher, Surrey, UK, 02/05/2008 16:52
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The BBC the ultimate client of the client state are institutionally incapable of understanding why ordinary people would vote Conservative and Jeremy Vine who would be unemployable in any commercial operation panders to his bosses belief that the democratic views of the general population are a joke. Where next
Jeremy? Chairman of Question Time directed by Ken Livingstone.
- Andrew Mills, Stainforth, North Yorkshire, 02/05/2008 16:40
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I switched off after 30 minutes as I couldn't stand the rubbishy presentation any longer. The stupid waste of license fee payers' money in putting on all those fancy graphics makes me very angry. What is wrong with some simple electronic wall charts to show the results? As for the cartoon figures, well, words fail me. It was at that point that I'd had enough of Vine, Dimbleby, tired-looking Anthony King et al. Abysmal, Auntie. Simply dreadful.
- Mike Mitchell, Spalding, England, 02/05/2008 16:13
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On the spectacle of Mr Vine's performance last night; it seems the BBC along with the present government are determined to address the British public in terms that suggest that they believe them to be moronic.
- Ken Denham, Carlisle, England, 02/05/2008 15:39
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